The ongoing Abia Airport Project has been rocked by fresh controversy, as landowners from Umuezenta, Umuelenwa, and Okpuala villages in Umuomainta Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, have accused government officials of fraudulent practices in the compensation process. The communities claim that unknown and non-existent names, including Yoruba names, have been inserted into the list of beneficiaries, raising suspicions of corruption and identity fraud.
Following a joint community meeting, the landowners expressed outrage after discovering unfamiliar names on the compensation register during a verification visit to Umuahia. “It is shocking that names we have never heard of, many of them Yoruba, appeared on the list meant for our people. This is a clear case of fraud,” a community leader stated, demanding an immediate government investigation into the irregularities.
The villagers have threatened to halt work at the project site until the contractor provides a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the land acquisition agreement signed with the host communities. They emphasized that acquiring such large tracts of land without adhering to legal and traditional protocols is unacceptable.
Further compounding their grievances, the landowners accused the government of understating the size of the acquired land in the compensation list, claiming the documented portion is significantly smaller than what was taken. “The state government must come clean on this issue,” a resident declared. “We are not against development, but fairness and transparency must be the foundation of such a landmark project. Our people deserve justice.”
The escalating tensions have prompted calls for Governor Alex Otti’s administration to intervene, investigate the alleged fraudulent insertion of names, and ensure that genuine landowners receive fair compensation. Community leaders warn that failure to address these concerns could lead to unrest, potentially stalling the progress of the Abia Airport Project.
